23not where to hide my head: yond same cloud cannot24choose but fall by pailfuls. What have we here?25a man or a fish? dead or alive? A fish: he smells26like a fish; a very ancient and fish-like smell; a kind of27not of the newest Poor-John. A strange fish! Were I

27. Poor-John: cheap dried fish.

28in England now, as once I was, and had but this fish29painted, not a holiday fool there but would give a piece

29. painted:i.e., on a sign hung outside a booth at a fair to attract curiosity-seekers.

42"I shall no more to sea, to sea,43Here shall I die ashore"44This is a very scurvy tune to sing at a man's45funeral: well, here's my comfort.

Drinks.

(Sings.)

46"The master, the swabber, the boatswain and I,47The gunner and his mate48Loved Mall, Meg and Marian and Margery,49But none of us cared for Kate;50For she had a tongue with a tang,51Would cry to a sailor, Go hang!52She loved not the savour of tar nor of pitch,53Yet a tailor might scratch her where'er she did itch:

53. a tailor: Stereotypically, tailors were small and shy, the opposite of hearty sailors.

54Then to sea, boys, and let her go hang!"55This is a scurvy tune too: but here's my comfort.

STEPHANO65This is some monster of the isle with four legs, who66hath got, as I take it, an ague. Where the devil67should he learn our language? I will give him some68relief, if it be but for that. if I can recover him

68. for that: i.e., because he knows our language. recover: restore.

69and keep him tame and get to Naples with him, he's a70present for any emperor that ever trod on neat's leather.

STEPHANO73He's in his fit now and does not talk after the74wisest. He shall taste of my bottle: if he have75never drunk wine afore will go near to remove his76fit. If I can recover him and keep him tame, I will

76-77. recover him: cure him of his fit. I will not take too much for him: whatever I can get for him won't be more than he's worth.

77not take too much for him; he shall pay for him that
78hath him, and that soundly.

STEPHANO103If thou beest Trinculo, come forth: I'll pull thee104by the lesser legs: if any be Trinculo's legs,105these are they. Thou art very Trinculo indeed! How106camest thou to be the siege of this moon-calf? can

TRINCULO108I took him to be killed with a thunder-stroke. But109art thou not drowned, Stephano? I hope now thou art110not drowned. Is the storm overblown? I hid me111under the dead moon-calf's gaberdine for fear of112the storm. And art thou living, Stephano? O113Stephano, two Neapolitans 'scaped!

STEPHANO138Out o' the moon, I do assure thee: I was the man i'139the moon when time was.

139. when time was: once upon a time.

CALIBAN140I have seen thee in her and I do adore thee:141My mistress show'd me thee and thy dog and thy bush.

141. thy dog and thy bush: Both here and in A Midsummer Night's Dream Shakespeare mixes together many bits of folklore to draw a picture of the Man in the Moon as accompanied by a dog and carrying a bush. See A Midsummer Night's Dream, 5.1.135, and 5.1.257.

STEPHANO142Come, swear to that; kiss the book: I will furnish143it anon with new contents. Swear!

[Caliban drinks.]

TRINCULO144By this good light, this is a very shallow monster!145I afeard of him! A very weak monster! The man i'146the moon! A most poor credulous monster!147Well drawn, monster, in good sooth!

147. Well drawn: that's a good long draught of wine you've taken. sooth: truth.

CALIBAN148I'll show thee every fertile inch o' th' island;149And I will kiss thy foot: I prithee, be my god.

TRINCULO150By this light, a most perfidious and drunken151monster! When 's god's asleep, he'll rob his bottle.

151. When 's god's asleep, he'll rob his bottle: When his god (Stephano) is asleep, he (Caliban) will steal his bottle of wine.

CALIBAN160I'll show thee the best springs; I'll pluck thee berries;161I'll fish for thee and get thee wood enough.162A plague upon the tyrant that I serve!163I'll bear him no more sticks, but follow thee,164Thou wondrous man.

TRINCULO165A most ridiculous monster, to make a wonder of a166Poor drunkard!